La Mesa's Oktoberfest, one of the largest O'fests in the West, will feature crafts, food, games and live music in the village. Oh, and a beer garden with brews from Sam Adams, Karl Struass and Warsteiner. Friday, 4 to 11:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

SATURDAY: Scot Blair's bars -- Hamilton's, Eleven, Small Bar and Monkey Paw -- celebrate Oktoberfest with German brews and (at the aforementioned Eleven) The Polka Dots and the Rick Alles bands. A bus will make the rounds among the four taverns between 3 and 7 p.m.

SUNDAY: Book with your brew? "Beer, Food, and Flavor: A Guide to Tasting, Pairing, and the Culture of Craft Beer," chef Schuyler Schultz's new book, will be sold and signed at AleSmith from 3 to 6 p.m. Schuyler will also chat with Peter Zien, AleSmith's brewmaster/owner and author of teh book's foreword.

AleSmith: 9368 Cabot Drive, San Diego; (858) 549-9888; alesmith.com

SUNDAY: Once you've had black beer, can you ever go back? Stone's "Pour it Black" will celebrate the dark and beery -- stouts, porters, schwarzbiers, black IPAs -- from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets, $45, entitle guests to a special glass and 15 three ounce samples.

SUNDAY: The Chargers' game against the Saints is a late one -- kickoff: 5:20 p.m. -- so O'Brien's kitchen will stay open until halftime. The $10 pitcher specia? That will start at 5 and continue until game's end.